Jamaica's Omar Brown open to defend Commonwealth Games 200m title

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Omar Brown has not ruled out defending his 200 metres title at the New Delhi Games in India next year.

Brown, who won the title in close finish with Stephan Buckland of Mauritius and fellow countryman Chris Williams at the 2006 event in Melbourne, Australia, returned to competition at the Shanghai Super Grand Prix in September, following a lengthened ankle injury.

The 27-year-old, who is married to fellow Jamaican and two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, ran a measly 21.06seconds on his return to the track, but said things are now on the mend.

Plagued by the persistent problem, Brown underwent an operation to clean out bone spurs from his ankle in September last year.

The former University of Arkansas sprinter trains in Clermont, Florida with his wife Veronica and fellow countryman Dwight Thomas, as well as, American sprint star Tyson Gay under the guidance of longtime coach Lance Braumann.

Earlier this year, sprint stars Asafa Powell, the reigning 100m champion and Usain Bolt, the world and Olympic and world record holder, who missed the last Games because of injury, said they were unsure about their participation at the event which is being labeled as a “Community Games.”

There is also doubt over the appearances of Olympic and world champion Shelly Ann Fraser and members of her MVP group, which also includes Brigitte Foster-Hylton, the world champion and defending Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles winner and Sherone Simpson, the 200m champion from 2006.